Coming from a 500 with (almost) the same engine, I'm surprised at the short just over 9k miles / annual service intervals
Does this apply to all Pandas
Cheers,
Does this apply to all Pandas
Cheers,
Technical Panda Twinair Cross - short service intervals
- Thread starter Squadrone Rosso
- Start date
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Technical Panda Twinair Cross - short service intervals
Mine is 18k or 2 years. Have they changed it recently?
babbo_umbro
Established member
Coming from a 500 with (almost) the same engine, I'm surprised at the short just over 9k miles / annual service intervals
Does this apply to all Pandas
Cheers,
News to me as well.
Fiat have revised the service schedules, with Pandas delivered in 2014 (and onwards) having the intervals halved! I keep getting letters from my local Fiat dealer telling me my December 2013 4x4 MJ needs servicing every 12,000 miles -- but I checked with Fiat who tell me that mine remains as a 21,000 interval, that I shoudl stick to that and that warranty is unaffected.
They have always said that cars covering less than 6000 miles a year need an annual service. Although modern oils mean engines can happily cope with 18k or more between services, I suspect Fiat are finding that cars that do a typical 10-12k annual mileage may be producing more expensive warranty claims because other problems can go on longer unnoticed - up to 23 months longer.
Other manufacturers have done the same thing, reverting back from 2 year/18 or 21k service intervals and basically halving them.
They have always said that cars covering less than 6000 miles a year need an annual service. Although modern oils mean engines can happily cope with 18k or more between services, I suspect Fiat are finding that cars that do a typical 10-12k annual mileage may be producing more expensive warranty claims because other problems can go on longer unnoticed - up to 23 months longer.
Other manufacturers have done the same thing, reverting back from 2 year/18 or 21k service intervals and basically halving them.
Inclinefoot
New member
Thanks for that HH. A number of local dealers have been pestering the life out of us since November (Panda 4x4 Nov 2013). I was beginning to doubt myself. The car did about 15,000ml in the year mostly a 20ml each way commute 80% of which is on country road so not arduous.
gar074
Prominent member
But going to 9000 is having a laugh, frankly, especially when you consider how ridiculously expensive a bog-standard Fiat service is.
The panda is a an astronomical price to service at many fiat dealers. My Caravelle is 1/2 the price to service with VW.
Luckily for squadrone rosso J&J motors are the cheapest I've ever seen on this forum.
Luckily for squadrone rosso J&J motors are the cheapest I've ever seen on this forum.
babbo_umbro
Established member
There's a selection on the display menu on the Panda that counts you down to the next service - resetting that is one of the things that an indy garage has trouble with.
Sounds like the usual hopeless communication from Fiat! Truly one of the worst companies out there in keeping their customers informed about anything IMO.
Would say ring CS but I doubt they'll be of much help. Honestly, I mean that in the least sarcastic way possible!
My advice would be to go with whatever is in the service manual provided with your car. If they have changed the intervals without anyone knowing about it then that's their problem. You can't just change things without bothering to tell anyone
Would say ring CS but I doubt they'll be of much help. Honestly, I mean that in the least sarcastic way possible!
My advice would be to go with whatever is in the service manual provided with your car. If they have changed the intervals without anyone knowing about it then that's their problem. You can't just change things without bothering to tell anyone
OP
OP
My new car counts down from 9,320 miles / 15,000 KM's.
The book states 9k miles.
The book states 9k miles.
Yeah, I guess that must be it then.
Is that what it says in your manual too? Also, does it say 9k/1 year or "whichever comes first"?
Thing is we do around 12k per year (so comfortably without the previous/existing 18k/2yr interval).
However, if the service interval was 9k/1 year then I would be a little concerned about the last three months or so. I'd like to think the dealer/Fiat wouldn't punish you for going a fair way beyond the 9k threshold?
OP
OP
The manual says 9k or 12 months so pretty clear.
Annual service for Chichi then.
Annual service for Chichi then.
gar074
Prominent member
Some manufacturers allow you to go 1k over without invalidating the warranty. It should give details in your warranty booklet. If not, don't risk it, as they'll try to wriggle out of paying out for repairs under the warranty.
babbo_umbro
Established member
It'll be interesting to see if the reset on the next service retains the previous service interval or changes to the new one. I'd have thought anyone sticking to the service indicator on their car would be pretty secure in any warranty claim.
I wonder if new TA 500's are now 9k also? If not what's peculiar about the Cross? They've actually halved the service interval effectively which seems strange. My TA is going in for a service this week at 10k and 12 months old. Out of interest does your Cross take 0W oil or 5W?
OP
OP
The service intervals are Panda specific, not Cross specific.
The oil to use is stated as Selenia Digitek. Doesn't say the grade.
The oil to use is stated as Selenia Digitek. Doesn't say the grade.
OP
OP
Just searched Selenia Digitek.
It appears to be 0/30 not 5/40 like on my TA 500.
It appears to be 0/30 not 5/40 like on my TA 500.
Yeah, that's what I'd be worried about.
Still a bit of a grey area IMO - potentially I'd have to get my car serviced every nine months to keep in with the warranty, which would be a bit of a joke really.
Anyway, I suppose the lesson to all reading this is to bring this up with the dealer before you sign on the dotted line.
It seems they need to take a leaf out of Toyota's book and start fixed price servicing IMO.
